Former Home Secretary, Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, has reacted to the announcement by Theresa May of a review of key counter-terrorism powers, including the 28-day limit of detaining terrorism suspects without charge.
Mr Blunkett, who was responsible for putting anti-terror legislation on the statute book after the events of 11 September 2001, said: “None of the issues raised by the Home Secretary should be off-limits for review. After all, parading one’s civil libertarian credentials has become an article of faith for the true believers within the coalition.
“However, a review that is already pre-determined in its outcome by the nominees to serve on it and the individual to oversee it is an insult to the intelligence of the British people.
“In particular, the idea that we should not hold suspected terrorists pre-charge for anything more than the seven days which existed before September 2001 is a demonstration of dangerous naivete which can only provide succour to those who would use our democracy in order to destroy it.”
Mr Blunkett added: “The voice of the worried, the insecure and the fearful; that of the honest, decent, law-abiding citizen, is woefully absent from Theresa May’s review.
“Political posturing is no substitute for leadership and for demonstrating a grasp of the enormity of the terrorist and organised criminal threat which, when allowed free rein, devastates the lives of the innocent.”
ENDS
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